Hundreds of Prep Students rallied this month to become the top fundraising team in the nation by collecting a tremendous $76,222 (smashing last year’s record-setting $62,607) at the 2024 Student Sleep Out in support of Covenant House—an annual event during which members of our community sleep in our courtyard in solidarity with those individuals who experience homelessness each year.
Covenant House New Jersey is a nonprofit organization that “empowers young people to overcome homelessness and trafficking by providing them with safe housing, food and clothing, and relentless support.”
In addition to Prep’s collective efforts, event committee member and Senior Representative for the Covenant House’s Junior Board, Aidan Maione ’24, individually raised $16,230, making him the current #1 individual fundraiser in New Jersey and current #3 individual fundraiser in the nation.
“Prep’s Sleep Out is one of the most important events in my entire Prep career because it shows that we are willing to deal with hardships….We refuse to sleep inside when 4.2 million youths have to sleep outside,” he said in a video promoting the students’ efforts.
He was joined in these organizational efforts by fellow committee members Peyton Monaghan, ’25, Evan Nguyen, ’25, Luke Bae, ’26, John McClelland, ’26, Patrick Naughton, ’26 and Sasha Tyazhelkov, ’26, along with support from Prep’s Office of Campus Ministry, including Dr. Susan Woolever and Mr. Keith Cummings, ‘10.
Following several weeks of fundraising, the Prep community gathered in the O’Keefe Commons on March 3 for the Sleep Out event. Following dinner, participants were led in discussion and reflection by Ms. Kirsten Corley and Mr. Stephen McNair, representatives of Covenant House.
They then listened to a Q&A session with several Covenant House alumni, whose stories of perseverance shed light on Covenant House’s mission and the ways it impacted them.
Finally, Prep’s top fundraisers were recognized by class year, including:
- Class of 2024 – Ravi Struck ($1,210)
- Class of 2025 – Colin Cassels ($3,113)
- Class of 2026 – Conor Naughton ($2,100)
- Class of 2027- Ayden D’Sa ($800)
The students then adjourned to the courtyard under the eyes of the statue of Young Peter and the “In Good Company” banners adorning our library—reminders of our mission to create young men for and with others.
“It really opened my eyes that while we might also be sleeping on that hard ground, we had each other to go through it [with,]” John McClelland, ‘26, said. “And many, many people go by it alone.”
Gathering with candles for a vigil and prayer service, our community thus remembered all those who have been impacted by homelessness and affirmed our Ignatian commitment to doing justice.
Students then retrieved cardboard boxes to create shelters before settling down for the night.
As the sun rose the following morning, our community assembled once again for further discussion and reflection, creating a paper “Sleep Out chain.” Each link bears a prayer or lesson a student took away from their experience. The completed display will hang in our lobby through the end of the month.
We thank everyone who participated or donated this year, including Prep’s own Mr. Rocco Barone and Mr. Stephen Fahy for joining that evening.
Later this month, Prep will receive the prestigious Student Impact Award in recognition of their work at Covenant House’s signature gala event, Night of Broadway Stars.